Teach Soap

I am using the FIRST recipe I found on the Internet. Does not mean it is the best! anyone have any really good recipies they would not mind sharing?

I have made two batches of bath fizzies and I am giving up. I put too much liquid in the first batch and they turned mushy. The second batch was too dry and wouldn't come out of the mold. I give up.

Bath fizzies can be really really tricky, fussy and FRUSTRATING (ask me how I know.......). I recently bought Make It Fizz: A Guide to Making Bathtub Treats by Holly Port. I had heard some really great things about the book, which is why I got it. It didn't live up to my expectations nearly as much as I was hoping, and at first I was rather disappointed. What I was really wanting was to learn the science behind bath bombs, then a few good recipes and instructions, as well as WHY those particular ingredients and methods are used. It was mostly recipes, so if you're looking for bath bomb recipes, FizzyWithIt, then you'll probably really like the book. Some of the recipes are a little confusing to me, though. For the liquid portion, some recipes call for, like, 1 Tbsp. witch hazel and 1 Tbsp. water. Why not just use 2 Tbsp. witch hazel or 2 Tbsp. water? Don't know, doesn't explain.

So I have not tried any of the recipes exactly yet, though I did try one of her ideas. This might help you, plschrader. She says to use a stand mixer for mixing the baking soda/citric acid/liquid/oils/etc. Well, I don't just have a stand mixer lying around that I can use for the occasional bath bomb batch I make (and unless you're going to make a serious business out of it, I don't know that the average bath bomb maker is going to be able to invest in a stand mixer, either), but we do have a hand mixer that I can use. So I used that, and, I will have to say, I'm going to be using one from now on. It really gave the first batch I tried it on the most wonderful, smooth (no lumps!), moist, easy-to-work-with consistency, that I LOVED. So really liked the mixer idea (that is, if you have a stand or hand mixer).

Using the hand mixer also allowed me to pour in the liquid, oils, fragrance, etc., without much fizzing. Because the mixture was moving so fast, it didn't have time to react with the liquids before they were all blended in. So again, really liked her mixer idea, and my opinion of her book is a little higher now.

Maybe I will give some of her recipes a shot. A lot of them call for cornstarch, which I don't see the reason for using (she doesn't explain why she uses it), and some for borax. But I may try one of her recipes to the letter just to see if perhaps the recipes are what make the book worth it. If I do try one, I will let you guys know....

Also, plschrader, what climate do you live in? Apparently, humidity can cause fizzies to flunk.

I'm a little discouraged with bath bombs as well, but I'm going to keep trying them. I think it just takes a lot of trial and error and experimenting and failed batches to master them.

Also, plschrader, I would really suggest trying a hand mixer. I don't think the spritz, mix, and test method works too well. Don't give up completely!

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Olivia :)

I have always mixed by hand... something about the feel of it and temperature that you can "learn" when it is ready. as far as lumps go, sifting all the dry ingredients in a flower sifter has always worked for me never have I had a clump.